Pawl-and-ratchet mechanism



C. W. HOWE.

PAWL AND RATCHET MECHANISM.

' APPLICATION mzn AUG.H, 1919.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

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i To all whom it may concern r 1 ratchet, spring device.

, drawings,

UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cuiwroiv w. Hows, or cHIoAGo', ILLINOIS.

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Be it known that I, CLINTON W. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pawl-and-Ratchet Mechanism; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is -a full, clear, and exact description lo'f the same, reference being had to the accompanying and tothe numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This i-nventionrelates more particularly to an improved type of ,a ratchet spring device adapted for use'onphonographs and other similar devices, and affording an efficient means for controlling the direction ofrotation of a winding shaft on which a ratchet wheel is secured to co-act' with the It is an object of this invention to provide a pawl'and ratchet device having re silient means for bringing the pawl into locking engagement with the ratchet to prevent a reverse rotation thereof."

Another object of the lIlVBIltlOII isthe construction of a pawl .and ratchet mechanism wherein resilient members carried by the pawl are adapted to frictionally engage the ratchet to afford a positive means for drawing the pawl back into engagement with the ratchet to lock the same against a counter rotation.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to construct a pawl with springs on the opposite sides thereof for co-action with a ratchet to permit said ratchet to be rotated in one direction only.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a pawl and ratchet mechanism of simple and effective construction, and affording positive means for causing the pawlto engage the ratchet to prevent a reverse rotation thereof.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and draw- 1n s. I

lhe invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a phono Specification of Letters Patent. P f nt t, 1920 Application filed August 11, 1919. 'Serial No 316,699.

graph driving mechanism equipped with a pawland'ratchet mechanism embodying the principles of this invention.

1g. 2 1s an end elevation thereof showing aside view ofthe pawl and ratchet device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 33, of'Fig. 1. Y As shown on the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2, disclose a phonograph driving mechanism embracing a one piece top or mounting plate 1. Integrally formed on one'end of the plate 1, is a downwardly directed support or'braeket plate 2, longer at one side and provided with an aperture.

The other or shorter side of the bracket 2, i

is also provided with an opening which'is disposed in alinement with an opening formed in a downwardly projecting bracket orarm 3, integrally formed on I the under. surface of the plate 1, andopposite the short portion of the bracket 2. Journaled in the brackets 2 and '3, is the inner end of a crank shaft or motorwinding shaft 4. A

gear 5, iskeyed on the shaft 4, adj acentthe inner surface of the bracket 2. The gear 5, is in mesh witha larger gear 6, which 1s keyed or otherwlse secured on a gear sleeve 7, engagedaround a motorsupport= ingrshaft 8.

he motor shaft 8,has one end thereof supportedv in the opening inthe long portion o-f --the bracket 2, and the otherend engaged'in an opening provided for the purpose in an arm or bracket 9. The bracket 9, is integrally formed on the plate 1, and is disposed opposite thelong portion ofthe bracket 2. The gear sleeve 7, projects into an incased spring motor 10 having a large worm-wheel 11, secured adjacent one side thereof to rotate therewith.

A motor spring is positioned within the motor and has the inner end thereof secured to the sleeve 7, to permit winding of the motor spring. The other or outer end of the motor spring is secured to the motor The reference numeral 15, indicates the phonograph governor mechanism.

The pawl and ratchet mechanism of this invention is clearly disclosed in Fig. 3, and embraces a ratchet wheel 16, which is keyed or otherwise secured on the windin shaft 4, adjacent the outer surface of the racket 2. A pivot pin 17, is secured to the bracket 2, above the winding shaft 4, and pivotally engaged on said pin 17, is the upper end of a curved pawl 18, disposed in the plane of the ratchet wheel to engage the teeth thereof. A pair of curved plate springs 19, have the upper ends thereof secured on on posite sides of the pawl 18, by rivets 20, or other means. The lower ends of the springs 19, extend beyond the free end of the pawl 18, and have detentsor projections 21, formed thereon to frictionally engage the opposite surfaces of the ratchet wheel.

The operation is as follows:

The motor is adapted to be wound by turning the winding shaft 4, by means of a suitable crank handle adapted to be re movably engaged thereon. Rotation of the shaft 4, is permitted in one direction only due to the improved pawland ratchet meeh-- anism. The ratchet-wheel 16,. is rotated with the shaft at, and the teeth thereof act to force the pawl 18, outwardly or away from the ratchet-Wheel, The pawl springs 19,, frictionally contact the opposite sides of the ratchet-wheel, and serve to hold the pawl out of engagement, with said ratchetwheel when the motor is being wound.

After the motor has been sufficiently wound,;the motorspring acts to reverse the rotation of the ratchet-wheel 16. This reverse rotation of the ratchet-wheel 16, acts to frictionally draw the pawl springs 19, inwardly toward the. shaft 4, thereby simultaneously moving the toothed. end of the pawl 18, intol locking engagement with one of the ratchet-wheel teeth to lock the motor sleeve 7 against a reverse rotation.

When the phonograph is started the motor spring acts to rotate the motor casing and the large worm-gear 11, which being in mesh with the worm 14, acts to rotate the turn-table spindle 13. The speed of the spindle 13, is controlled by the governor mechanism 15. n

It will, of course, be understood that the pawl and ratchet mechanism may be used on any device other than a phonograph, where it is desired to positively prevent a reverse rotation of a ratchet-wheeh If preferred, the pawl may be construeted\vith integral spring membersto afford a one piece or unitary construction. I

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A reverse rotation check mechanism embracing a ratchet -wheel, a pivoted aw]. adapted to engage'the toothed peri ery thereof, and resilient members y secured on opposite sides ofisaid pawl and inclosing the hook end thereof to friction.- ally engage" the sides of said ratchet-wheel to positively insure a locking engagement of said pawl with the ratchet-wheel when the ratchet-wheel; starts to rotate in a re-- verse direction. 7 I

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two so subscribing witnesses 1 CLINTON W. HOWE Witnesses; v i

.Cmnnns W. HrmsJn, EARL M. HARDINE. 

